Thurles Horse Racing Tips: Thursday Best Bets and Key Stats

See below our quickfire Thurles horse racing tips and key stats on Thursday, as the County Tipperary track host a seven-race card that features more runners from the in-form Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott stables.

This Week’s Irish Horse Racing Bandwagon Heads To Thurles On Thursday 🇮🇪

The Dublin Racing Festival might have been called off last Saturday, but since then we’ve had Irish jumps racing every day.

With the next instalment coming on Thursday at Thurles for another seven-race card.

We get going at 1:07pm for a Beginners Chase, where all eyes will be on Salvator Mundi as he looks to grab his first win over fences.

Then five more races, till the final contest at 4:37pm.

So, see below our quickfire 1-2-3 Thurles horse racing tips and also some helpful stats to take into each race.

You can also tap into Andy Newton’s daily free horse racing cheat sheet – including his popular NAP, top trainers, lay of the day and much, much more.

Thurles Horse Racing Tips and Stats: Thursday 5th February 2026 🏇

1:07 – Horse & Jockey Beginners Chase (5yo+) 2m2f RTV

Course winner Scalpnagoon for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy, who has a decent 33% SR over fences here, will draw the eye on chase debut.

But does need to bounce back from a poor run over hurdles back in November at Navan.

This should, however, revolve around the Willie Mullins trio – Dr Eggman, Fishery Lane and SALVATOR MUNDI.

Paul Townend has picked Mundi and despite disappointing his in his two runs so far over fences, he still brings the best form to the table.

His 6th (22 lengths) to Monday’s DRF winner Romeo Coolio is more than okay translated into this company.

And even though he was beaten at 1/7 on debut here in November, that was also his first start since April.

Let’s not forget he’s a grade one winner over hurdles, when slamming the already mentioned Romeo Coolio at Aintree last season.

He should be getting off the mark and could even lead home a Mullins 1-2-3.

Selections

🥇SALVATOR MUNDI
🥈DR EGGMAN
🥉FISHERY LANE

KEY STATS 📈

1:42 – Racing Again On The 19th February Handicap Chase (5yo+) 2m2f RTV

The form of the Henry De Bromhead yard at the moment is not great (0-24 at the time of writing) – so their fancied Blue Hop is overlooked, despite a fair third last time out at Tramore.

Kilbrin Rocco and West Of Carrig are the only two last time out winners in the field – but are both up in the weights as a result.

The JP McManus runner Luimneach was an improved second at Down Royal last time and can get involved too. Aidan Kelly also takes off a handy 3lbs.

But a chance is taken on two Gavin Cromwell runners – TOON TOWN and TELL US THIS.

This former was ahead of Luimneach here two runs back (4th) and has since run a good second at Catterick.

While Keith Donoghue rides Tell Us This and will be hoping the ground dries out a bit with all his better form on quicker.

But is also back in trip today, which should help and is slowly falling back down the ratings.

Cromwell also has Journey So Far, who is worth noting in the betting.

Selections

🥇TOON TOWN (nr)
🥈TELL US THIS
🥉BLUE HOP

KEY STATS 📈

2:17 – Holycross Maiden Hurdle (5yo+) 2m RTV

The past trends of this race tell us horses aged 5 or 6 have the best record.

Plus, it’s not been a bad race for the favourites or claiming ridden horses.

But we’ve only two jockeys claiming in the race – they ride Barrowline and Ocean Of Dreams.

The eye, however, will be drawn to the Mullins, Ricci, Townend horse LAURETS D’ESTRUVAL, after running a fair second on his hurdles debut at Limerick on Boxing Day.

Starting Fifteen, who won that race, ran 7th in the G1 Tattersalls Ireland Novices Hurdle at the DRF last weekend to Talk The Talk.

Which gives the form a solid look in a race that lacks very little depth. Mullins also won this race in 2016 and 2022.

However, Talk The Talk’s trainer Joseph O’Brien looks to have two interesting horses as well –  Le Labo and A Piece Of Heaven.

The last-named is a former 106-rated flat performer was a 1/2 a length second in the Irish Cesarewitch last September and before that 7th in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot.

Jumping has to be taken on trust, but we know he’s useful on the level and could just have too much toe for this lot if his jumping holds up.

While Le Labo was a course winner in a NH Flat race last season, but has fallen and unseated in his two runs over hurdles since.

That said, he was unlucky the last day, when four lengths clear when taking a tumble at the last at Cork – and would have beaten the useful Kazansky that day too.

With the O’Brien camp also having a top 38% SR with their hurdlers here at Thurles to add further confidence.

Of the rest, Good Show is a former Andrew Balding flat horse that is now with Gordon Elliott and is noted in the betting.

Selections

🥇LAURETS D’ESTRUVAL
🥈LE LABO (nr)
🥉A PIECE OF HEAVEN

KEY STATS 📈

2:52 – www.thurlesraces.ie Maiden Hurdle (5yo+) 2m4½f RTV

The market will be our best friend for the chances of the Willie Mullins-trained FOU DE TOI, who hasn’t been out for 638 days.

He was last seen running third in France back in May 2024, so could be anything.

But has been well-supported in the betting and is expected to be well forward and also holds a Grade One entry in the Turners at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.

He’s 20/1 for that race, so a good run here and those odds should vanish.

Fou De Toi should be giving the Donnellys their second winner on the card (if Salvator Mundi lands the opener).

Vitorio Piel also brings decent form to the race after winning at Punchestown back in November and has been freshened up since.

The second Yeshil has since run third to Kazansky, while Vitorio Piel also beat It’s Only A Game by six lengths last May at Punchestown.

The negative though is that he’s got to give away 7lbs to the others.

One of those being Puma’s Dream, from the Gordon Elliott yard, who took a step forward last time at Naas (4th).

That was only his second career run and is another that’s been freshened up with 52 days off – Jack Kennedy rides.

Selections

🥇FOU DE TOI
🥈VITORIO PIEL
🥉PUMA’S DREAM

KEY STATS 📈

3:27 – Thurles Rated Novice Hurdle (5yo+) 2m4½f RTV

Murat is the only last time out winner in the field – having beaten Doctor Du Mesil last time by a nose at Leopardstown.

But the second there has since been beaten at odds-on to slightly doubt the form.

Welonlyhavedone is respected too after a good third at Navan the last day. And with only four runs over hurdles can have more to come.

Gin Tonic is noted from the in-form Paul Nolan yard too, after a good second at Fairyhouse last time. While Heron’s Butler is the only course winner in the field.

But a chance is taken on the Gordon Elliott runner – TIMELESS TREATY, with the yard having a fair record in this race (2-5).

This 6yo has been a beaten jolly in two of his last three starts, which is a small worry – but this looks slightly easier and with just seven runs there should be more to come.

Jack Kennedy rides, who has a 29% SR riding over hurdles here.

Selections

🥇TIMELESS TREATY
🥈MURAT
🥉GIN TONIC

KEY STATS 📈

4:02 – William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle (4yo+ 0-100) 2m7f RTV

With four of the last seven winners guided home by a claimer and also 7 of the last 8 aged between 5-7 – then AINE’S LAD ticks these boxes.

He’s also set to be ridden by James Smith, who is 3-8 (43%) riding over hurdles here, and claims a handy 5lbs.

A recent second at Punchestown, on what was only his second run back should have him spot-on for this.

It’s also worth noting that ALL of the last eight winners carried just 10st 10lbs or more.

Of the rest, recent winners The Little Yank and Kanog Bay head here in-form but more is needed upped in the ratings.

So the placings are left to two more horses that finished second last time too – Snow Punt and Empire Walk.

Selections

🥇AINE’S LAD
🥈SNOW PUNT 
🥉EMPIRE WALK 

KEY STATS 📈

4:37 – John Thomas McNamara Series INH Flat Race (4yo+) 2m RTV

Not a lot to go on for this NH Flat race – so the market will help come post time.

Point winner Barnpark has been well found in the market from the Gavin Cromwell team – so looks sure to run well.

Gordon Elliott has won two of the last five and also has another Point winner Thinkitdontjinxit.

But Joseph O’Brien’s GREENHILLS OF CORK has at least been on shown when fourth at Listowel back in September.

Plus, the winner, second and third have all gone in again since to frank the form.

He’s the pick in a tricky finale.

While, finally, it’s worth noting that Willie Mullins has won five of the last nine too and runs Drombane.

He was fifth on debut at Punchestown to It’s Only A Game, which looks fair form and the jockey Mr C Mullins has ridden the last two as well.

Selections

🥇GREENHILLS OF CORK
🥈DROMBANE
🥉THINKITDONTJINXIT

KEY STATS 📈